Historic Nurses Strike at Brigham and Women's Hospital Begins

WHO:

Boston.com - More than 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

CBS News - The Massachusetts Nurses Association represents the striking nurses.

CBS News - Shannon Viera is a nurse with MGB Home Care.

CBS News - Kojo Acheanpong is a hematology patient at the hospital.

CBS News - Peter Caikauskas is a family member of a patient at the hospital.

WHAT:

Boston.com - A strike involving more than 4,000 nurses is underway at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

CBS News - The strike is the largest nurses strike in Massachusetts history.

CBS News - The hospital has hired nearly 1,300 replacement nurses to cover shifts for the next five days.

CBS News - The strike is scheduled for one day, but nurses will be locked out for four additional days.

CBS News - More than 450 Mass General Brigham home health care clinicians also walked off the job.

CBS News - The nurses strike and lockout is scheduled to end on Monday, July 13 at 7 a.m.

CBS News - The home health care workers strike is set to end on Wednesday, July 15 at 8 a.m.

WHERE:

Boston.com - Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

CBS News - Braintree, where the home health care workers strike occurred.

WHY:

CBS News - The nurses are negotiating contracts, with disputes over pay, as the hospital proposed zero-percent raises.

CBS News - The union claims the hospital's proposal does not meet the needs of the nurses.

CBS News - Home health care workers are seeking changes to working conditions, case load limits, and wage increases.

HOW:

CBS News - The hospital has contracted replacement nurses for five days to maintain patient care during the strike.

CBS News - Nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) reportedly faced restrictions on leaving due to patient safety concerns, although hospital spokespersons disputed this claim.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 16:32 UTC)

A historic strike involving more than 4,000 nurses is currently taking place at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, marking the largest nurses strike in Massachusetts history. The nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, are negotiating contracts amid disputes over pay, as the hospital has proposed zero-percent raises, while home health care workers are also striking for better working conditions and wage increases. The strike is scheduled to last for one day, but nurses will be locked out for four additional days, with the situation expected to conclude on Monday, July 13 at 7 a.m.